Lawmakers Fight to Posthumously Honor Veteran With Medal of Honor

A bipartisan effort by Florida Reps. Michael Waltz (R), Stephanie Murphy (D), and Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R) announced that U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had agreed to honor U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe with a Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for combat valor in the United States.

Esper commented that he will be recommending to President Trump (R) that SFC Cashe should be. Posthumously awarded the Medal and that Congress should make a change to a federal law that requires Medal of Honor recipients be awarded them within five years of the actions for the basis of the award.

In response to the announcement, the lawmakers released statements in support of the Pentagon’s endorsement.

“Alwyn Cashe’s extraordinary courage on behalf of his fellow soldiers, in the face of danger and death, embodies everything the Medal of Honor represents,” Waltz expressed. He added that “Cashe is a Florida and American hero,” noting that “he without a doubt deserves our nation’s highest honor.”

Rep. Murphy echoed in Waltz’s remarks, commenting that “Alwyn was a hero in the purest and most profound sense” and that Alwyn “gave his own life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.”

And, as a member of the House, Stephanie argued that she would "work with my colleagues to swiftly grant the President the authority he needs to provide this valiant soldier with the recognition he earned." 

Waltz also stressed that "Congress needs to act to waive the five-year statute of limitations and allow the Department of Defense's recommendation to move forward and proceed to the President to give final approval."